Buying guides
No-cost solar & battery in Australia: how $0-upfront systems actually work
Updated 1 June 2026
Quick answer
- In a genuine no-cost model a provider owns, installs and maintains the system; you pay only for the energy you use.
- There is usually no equipment or installation charge, but watch for inspection fees and property-upgrade costs.
- Pi's no-cost offer charges a flat $0.26/kWh and currently serves South East Queensland (Gold Coast to Brisbane), with expansion planned.
"No-cost" or "$0-upfront" solar means you don't pay for the panels, battery or installation — a provider funds and owns the hardware, and you pay for the electricity it helps deliver. It is a service model, not a giveaway. The economics work because the provider keeps the asset on its balance sheet and earns revenue over years, often boosted by aggregating thousands of batteries into a virtual power plant.
How does no-cost solar make money for the provider?
Three revenue streams typically underwrite a no-cost offer:
- Energy sales — you buy the power you consume at an agreed rate.
- Virtual power plant (VPP) revenue — the provider trades stored battery energy and provides grid-stabilisation services.
- Scale efficiencies — bulk hardware procurement and standardised installs lower per-home cost.
What do you actually pay under a no-cost offer?
Under a power purchase agreement you pay for energy, not equipment. With Pi that is a single flat $0.26/kWh anytime rate, with property network and supply charges passed through at cost. The site inspection fee (normally $297) is currently waived during the pilot, until 31 August 2026. If the inspection finds your property needs electrical or structural upgrades, those are quoted separately and you can withdraw.
How do you spot a genuine no-cost offer?
- The provider owns and maintains the equipment — you never get a repair bill.
- Pricing is transparent and flat, with no hidden financing or balloon payments.
- Installers are accredited and work to Australian Standards (AS4777 and AS5033).
- Any fees (inspections, upgrades) are disclosed before you commit.
Is no-cost solar available across Australia?
Availability is geographic. Pi's no-cost solar and battery program currently serves South East Queensland — the Gold Coast to Brisbane corridor on the Energex network — as a 1,000-home pilot, with expansion to further regions planned. If you're outside that area, the buying principles above still apply when you evaluate local offers.
Frequently asked questions
The equipment and installation carry no cost because the provider owns and maintains the system. You pay for the energy you use. With Pi that is a flat $0.26/kWh, and the site inspection fee (normally $297) is currently waived during the pilot, until 31 August 2026.
See if your home qualifies
Pi's no-cost solar & battery offer currently serves the Gold Coast to Brisbane corridor on the Energex network, with expansion planned.